Media release: Randwick Council set to invest $68M in light rail

about 4 years ago

RANDWICK COUNCIL SET TO INVEST $68 MILLION
IN LIGHT RAIL

Media release - Randwick City
Council

Thursday 17 April 2014

Randwick
City Council has today, Thursday 17 April 2014, released a draft light rail
support plan in response to the NSW Government’s CBD and South East Light Rail
project which proposes to spend $68 million over five years to increase parking
and support the introduction of light rail in Randwick City.

The
draft support plan will be considered by Councillors at a Council Meeting on
Tuesday 29 April 2014.

Contained
within the plan are a series of recommendations, design revisions and detailed
technical drawings in response to the Government's $1.6B light rail project
which will run from Circular Quay to Randwick
and Kingsford.

Mayor
Scott Nash said the support plan is about ensuring Randwick City
gets the most out of the new transport system.

"We
welcome the introduction of light rail in Randwick City
and commend the Government on their vision. Our draft plan is about supporting
light rail and making sure Randwick
City gets the most out of
this once in a generation opportunity to revitalise our City," Mayor Nash
said.

Council
is proposing to allocate $68M over five years to:

create hundreds of new onstreet parking spaces (to reclaim
those lost by the introduction of light rail) by changing parallel parking to
angle parking in local streets near Anzac Parade;

purchase land and construct a
multi-storey car park at Kingsford 9-ways roundabout;

build new public
plazas and close streets at Waratah
Ave/Belmore Rd, Randwick;
and Meeks St/Anzac Pde, Kingsford;

upgrade stormwater
drainage;

build east-west
cycleways that connect with light rail stops;

build bicycle
lockers and racks near light rail stops; and

undertake traffic
calming works in residential streets.

Council is continuing to
work with Transport for NSW over the details of the proposed light rail lines
to Kingsford and Randwick.
Some of the issues that Council considers should be included in any Development
Agreement with Transport for NSW are:

inclusion of
Council’s Light Rail Urban Design Guidelines;

pedestrianisation
of High Street between Wansey Road
and Botany Street.

relocating the
light rail stabling facility;

extending light
rail to Maroubra Junction;

provision of a
table of minimum footpath widths along Anzac Parade;

undergrounding
power lines along Anzac Parade;

swapping the
construction compound site from the Rainbow Street site to Anzac Parade south
of Sturt Street to provide for an additional 50 car parking spaces for the
Kingsford Town Centre and Souths Juniors;

maintaining some
car parking on Anzac Parade where configuration allows;

developing an
agreed process to assess trees for retention along the alignment (Wansey Road),
instead of leaving it to the discretion of the PPP;

provision of a
business liaison officer by TfNSW for our town centres;

development of a
business continuity plan in liaison with Council and Chambers of Commerce; and

input into
naming rights of light rail stations.

Mayor Scott Nash said:

“Light rail will bring considerable benefits to our area. It will
create between 500 and 700 jobs as a direct result of construction, and it will
support the growth of more than 4,000 jobs in education health and research in Randwick City,” Mayor Nash said.

“But with the benefits also come many challenges and inevitable disruption
to residents and businesses. Our plan is to ensure we address these as much as
possible.

“I want everyone in Randwick
City to know that Council
is well aware of their concerns and that we are working hard on developing the
right solutions. Although this is a State Government project, not a Council
project, we’re working with all stakeholders to get the best outcome we can for
our City,” Mayor Nash said.

The $68 million light rail support plan will be discussed by
Councillors at this month’s public Council meeting on Tuesday 29 April 2014 at Randwick Town Hall starting at 6pm.

This consultation has concluded. This website was operational from 2011 to 2014 as a means to consult the community and show the benefits of light rail in Randwick City. The NSW Government will start construction on the CBD and South East Light Rail project after April 2015. For updates on construction refer to the Sydney Light Rail website: http://www.sydneylightrail.transport.nsw.gov.au/latest/current-works

Randwick City Council continues to consult the local community about ways to reduce the impact of the construction of light rail in Randwick City. Future consultations will be conducted through our special consultation websitewww.yoursayrandwick.com.au.